December 3 - 7

DECEMBER IS HERE!  Today officially marks the first day of Advent - four weeks our family puts aside to focus on the Christmas Season.  In addition to our quiet time, we celebrated by traveling down to Meadow and viewed the Meadow Lights!  It was simple, but fun.  The kids enjoyed looking at the creative lights in the middle of, well - a meadow!


Our weeks leading up to Winter Break are filled with fun and many activities.  Be watchful as we near some important dates.

Reading:
This week we will continue to read Patricia Polacco's brilliant books.  Last week the students really seemed to enjoy The Keeping Quilt.  After summarizing the book using:
Someone
Wanted
But 
So
Then
we each made a quilt to remember the book.  I have connected the students' pieces to make a large quilt on our back wall.
We will enjoy My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother this week.  This is a charming book about sibling rivalry.  Polacco reminisces about the adventures her and her older brother had while trying to beat each other at various competitions.  In the end, they learn to appreciate each other.
Our focus will shift from nouns to adjectives this week.
                                               

Spelling:
At first I wanted to give the students all remainder 25 high frequency words, but presently have decided I will only give the students 15.  We will finish off the list next week.  Therefore. . . I have highlighted the words on the list that the students will be responsible for this week.  The homework is also slightly different.  Instead of sentences on Wednesday, the students will write each word in bubble letters.

Math:
Monday we will graph our November temperature.  The students will create a line graph with the data collected in the month of November.  Then, we will concentrate on Pictographs this week.



Science:
Science projects due Monday, December 10th.  Please return:
1:  Project
2.  Take Home Test
3.  Notes in Blue Folder
In House Sound Field Trip on Monday, December 17th!

Social Studies:
We will dive back into Social Studies this week looking at the country's government.  Since the election is somewhat fresh in our minds, I thought this would be a wise unit to begin to cover now.

Gingerbread Houses:
I will be sending home the information on Monday about the gingerbread houses.  I didn't want to overwhelm you all last week, so decided to wait to send home the note on Monday, December 3rd.  This will be a parent involvement activity.  All parents are welcome to come and enjoy this sticky-sweet project.  We will be creating the houses on Thursday, December 12th @ 1:45.  If things go well, we may even perform a small German song for the parents!